I1th Meditation.
"And
Joseph went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judea, to the city
of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of
David."
-Saint Luke ii. 4.
The journey was trying to
Mary, and hardly less so to Saint Joseph, to whom fell all the anxiety and
fatigue of seeking a shelter, and to whom all the humiliating refusals were
addressed. Bethlehem is David's city, but no shelter will David's son find there
for David's daughter, Mary, Mother of the King of kings! Not a murmur is
uttered, no cloud o'ershadows the peace of Joseph's soul or the even serenity
of his brow.
We can readily picture the
smile with which Joseph's utterance is received, when he claims to be enrolled
as a descendant of the house of David! If Cæsar has aught to fear, the danger
will not proceed from this scion of Judah's royal line!
And yet, who at this moment
reigns in Rome, and from Rome sways the world? Where is Cæsar? Vanished,
together with his empire, in order to give place to the Vicegerent of Him whom
Bethlehem rejected, and whom one of Cæsar's servants inscribed among the lowliest
of his master's subjects. Let us beware of judging according to outward
appearance, or we too might have despised Joseph, the spouse of Mary, of Mary,
Mother of Jesus, King of kings. Eternal Word-very God and very man.
Let us not blush to appear
poor and lowly; the world metes out its esteem and its contempt according to
outward semblance; it falls prostrate at the feet of a poor miserable wretch,
provided he wears a crown, and disdains true greatness, if greatness wears the
livery of the poor.
We say again, and cannot too
often reiterate: despise the world's contempt; more, if possible, than its
esteem and honours; then, and only then, will you possess true liberty, and
only then will you be truly great.
Watchword. Appear less than
you really are.
11. The Venerable de la Salle and Saint
Joseph.
The Venerable de la Salle
placed his institution under the patronage of Saint Joseph, and daily recited
the litanies of the Saint, recommending his brethren to do so likewise, in
order that Saint Joseph's tender care of the Infant Jesus might serve as a
model to them in bringing up the children intrusted to their care. The Saint
proved how dear the Venerable Father was to his heart; when he fell sick, his
strength returned on the eve of Saint Joseph's Day, and he was able to say
Mass, his last, on the morning of the Feast. His health appeared to have been
given back but for that purpose, for he soon experienced a relapse, and, in a
few days, fell asleep in the Lord.
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